David Blair's Blog, page 22

Estonia recruits volunteer army of 'cyber warriors'

General Jonathan Shaw, head of Britain's Defence Cyber Security Programme from 2011 until 2012, says UK should follow Estonia's example

North Korea's nuclear arsenal could be twice as big as earlier estimates

Chinese experts believe the Stalinist state has 20 warheads - and the ability to make another 20 every year - meaning that North Korea's arsenal could overtake Britain's within a decade

Russia masses more forces near Ukraine border

A new build-up is under way with Russia deploying air defence units inside Ukraine and massing more troops on the border, says US State Department

Britain's response to Hong Kong democracy protests offended all sides

Analysis: Ministers voiced just enough support for Hong Kong's democracy movement to alienate China, but not enough to win credit for defending British values.

The Edge by Mark Urban, review: 'compelling but brief'

Nato is disarming at a striking pace, while Russia does the opposite. The consequences are chilling, writes David Blair

Would we really go nuclear to protect Estonia?

If Nato does not defend its newest members the alliance is finished - and Putin knows it, writes David Blair

Izzat al-Douri: Last survivor of Saddam Hussein's inner circle who allied with Islamic State

He was the Iraqi tyrant's lackey who went on to mastermind Iraq's insurgency and attacks on US government forces - even joining Isil towards the 'end' of his life

Sitting near a nuclear tripwire, Estonia's president urges Nato to send troops to defend his country

Interview: President Toomas Hendrik Ilves tells the Telegraph the time has come for Nato to deter Russia by permanently stationing combat units in the Baltic states

Isis: the State of Terror by Jessica Stern and JM Berger; Isis: Inside the Army of Terror by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan: review

David Blair examines two new accounts of the history of Islamic State

The men in suits, not special forces, brought down Iran's Bond villain lair

Diplomacy - protracted, intense, often boring - has spared the world certain confict. We should give thanks to the grey men and women at the talks table, says David Blair